The Flywheel

Next meeting: February 3rd

The Rosie the Riveter Trust

Marsha Mather-Thrift, the new Executive
Director of the Rosie Trust, will tell us about the plans
for the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National
Park.

In a few weeks the Park's new Visitor's Center, located
in the "oil house" immediately east of the
Craneway building at Ford Point, will open its doors.
With that, a new chapter in the modern history of Richmond
will open as well.

Meeting of Friday, January
27th

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

President EJ Shalaby opened the meeting
with the pledge and Stoney offered
the invocation. Henry
Kellman’s thought for the day was a wish
that the political parties “would finish with the
debates and talk about something important”.

Visiting Rotarians

Stan Smalley of the San Ramon Club, and
representing the District, promoted the Paul Harris Society.
He explained why it is important to become a member of
the Society.

Rotarians with Guests

Josh Surowitz introduced his guest
Felix Hunziger, an architect and a member of Don Hardison’s
old firm. Jon Lawlis introduced his
guest his “sweetheart” Darlene. EJ Shalaby introduced
his wife, Jeannine, who accompanied the two very youngest
guests in the room, their boy and girl twins. The babies
behaved as least as well as the members during the Program.

Sunshine Report

We learned that Herb Cole is recovering
well from his recent kidney problems. (Let's drink to
that.)

Announcements

Josh Surowitz gave the membership committee report
urging all of us to “think of ourselves as members
of the committee” and to bring new potential members
to visit our club. The next meeting will be February
13th at 3:30PM at the Hotel Mac.

Jim Young announced that our Club
has bought a table for the St. Patrick's Day
Dinner (see following bullet point) and has
invited officers of the Richmond Police and Fire Departments
as the Club's guests.

The 3rd Annual BARSHEEP St. Patrick’s
Day Dinner Fest will be held March 17th,
Saturday at Hs Lordship’s, $45/person in advance,
$50 at the door if seats are still available.
For tickets, bring a checks or cash to David Brown
at our next meeting, or click the button on the right.
Couldn't be easier.

President EJ announced that the Board is searching
for a less expensive place for our Club to meet.

Joan Davis, our Foundation Chairperson,
explained how to become a Paul Harris Fellow and the
need for all members to make their annual $100 donation
to the Foundation. These contributions help fund the
Foundation’s international projects and some local
ones. After 3 years one-half of these funds are returned
to our Club to be used for our local projects.

Special Events

Lynn Martin was inducted into the Club. Impressing
us with her level of preparedness, she immediately made
her Who
Am I? presentation.

Lynn told us that she is actually “a local gal,” born
in Vallejo, but has worked in the public health field
in Oregon for approximately the past 15 years. Last
September she returned “home” to
become Executive Director of the Early Childhood Mental
Health Agency, which serves the needs of West Contra
Costa County children. (See her Program presentation
below.) Lynn
earned her undergraduate degree at San Francisco State
University, and later a masters in health sciences from
John Hopkins University.

Welcome to Richmond Rotary,
Lynn!

Recognitions

Jim Beaver, today’s Recognitions
Guy, is happy for his counterpart, Don
Lau, who became a grandfather for the first
time. It's a boy!

Recognitions

Josh Surowitz is happy his parents are coming to
visit and stay for awhile to be with their grandson
and soon to be next grandson. He’s also
happy about his law firm’s new associate.

Tom Butt is very happy about the
City of Richmond being selected by the Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratories as the site of their new research
campus. This will mean new jobs and tax monies
for the City.

Stoney is happy his daughter just
informed him she will become a member of the Fairfield
Rotary Club.

Alan Blavins is very sad (and upset). Someone “hacked” into
his computer and used his e-mail list to “scam” his
friends.

Jim Young is happy about the success
of Rotary sponsored Polio Plus. It appear India
has become the latest county to be declared polio-
free.

Sid Chauvin is sad and happy. His
daughter’s car was stolen on Saturday (sad),
and recovered with only minor damage on Monday (happy).

Hank Covell was very, very happy.
The Crab Feed at Salesian High School produced a net
of $49,000 to date.

Norm's Nonsense

-This guy is drinking at a bar when a sharp looking
gal sits down next to him. He strikes up a conversation
with her and she tells him that a recent article in a
magazine claimed that Indian braves and Polish men are
the best lovers.
Then she said, "By the way, my name is Peggy. What's
your name?"
He replied: "Flying Cloud Kowalski."

PROGRAM

The Early Childhood Mental Health Program

New member Lynn Martin, Executive Director of the Early
Childhood Mental Health Program discussed the agency's
work in addressing the emotional and psychological needs
of children between birth and 6 years of age.

An significant measure of the program's effectiveness
is how many of the program's "graduates" go
on to successfully attend a regular kindergarten or first
grade. Lynn was happy to report that, assessed by an
independent agency, 73% of these children do manage to
integrate into a regular kindergarten or elementary class.
This is an extremely good outcome for children who have
suffered from chronic abuse and neglect in their first
years of life.

To learn more about the critical work that Early Childhood
Mental Health Program does for the families of west Contra
Costa, visit its website at www.ecmhp.org

- Meeting and Program notes by pinch-hitting editor, Dan Sanders

Rotary Calendar

We've installed a new calendar on our website. To
see it, use the link in the upper navigation bar.
Or if that's too far too travel, click
here.

Upcoming Programs

February 10
What does the future hold for what is arguably Richmond's
most important cultural institution? Katy Curl,
the new Library Director, will discuss the Library
and its ever-evolving role in our city.

February 17
To be announced.

Have a suggestion for a
speaker? Please pass along the name and contact
information to Jim Young.